‘TUCHEL IN TALKS WITH BAYERN’

THOMAS TUCHEL (pix) is the front-runner to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as coach of Bayern Munich amidst media reports yesterday that contract negotiations are taking place. According to German daily Bild, the 44-year-old Tuchel is in Munich and in talks to take over at the Bavarian giants having been sacked by current Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund in May. Tuchel and Dortmund parted ways despite him steering the club to the German Cup title last season, the coach axed following a turbulent relationship with Borussia’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. Bayern director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic said on Friday that the club had “no names, no profiles” of who will replace Ancelotti, fired on Thursday in the wake of Bayern’s 3-0 drubbing at Paris Saint-Germain. “We will now collect our information and then make a decision,” said Salihamidzic. The 58-year-old Ancelotti spent 15 months in charge of Bayern and won the Bundesliga title last season. However, he was sacked after the poor performance at PSG when stars Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Mats Hummels were benched.

SAMPDORIA’S UNBEATEN RUN ENDS

UDINESE hammered 10-man Sampdoria 4-0 yesterday to improve their lowly standing and end the guests’ unbeaten record in the Italian Serie A. Rodrigo de Paul converted from the spot for the Udine hosts in the 27th minute after goalkeeper Christian Puggioni fouled Maxi Lopez, who got a brace converting a second penalty on 66 and scoring off De Paul’s feed on 85. Substitute Seko Fofana was fouled and converted the ensuing penalty in stoppage time. Samp midfielder Edgar Barreto was dismissed in the 40th with a second booking. The Genoa side are eighth on 11 points; Udinese now sit 13th on six points from seven games. Genoa, the other team from the seaside town, lost 10 at home to Bologna 1-0 as veteran Rodrigo Palacio scored the winner against his former team in the 73rd.